Abdominal belt.



A. B. KENDRICK.

ABDOMINAL BELT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I6. |916.

Patented Aug. 6, 1 918.

JAMES Ba KEN'DBICX COMPANY, lINC., PORATIONDF PENNSYLVANIA.

ABDOMINAL BELT.

lSpecification oi Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Application tiled September 16, 1918. Serial No. 120,449.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Beit known that I, ARTHUR B. KENDRICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Orange, in the count of Essex and State of New Jersey,have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in Abdominal Belts, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in abdominal belts or supporters;and the object of my invention is to provide a belt or supporter ofnovel construction which shall be efiicient and durable in o eration andwhich can be manufactured at ess cost than belts heretofore used for thesame purposes and havin the same general characteristics. According myinvention includes the employment of elastic strips havin rubberentering into their construction 1n combination with knit fabric havincertain characteristics and being devoi of rubber in its constructionand being associated with the elastic strips and other parts of the beltina novel manner to accomplish the object of my invention which consistsin the novel construction, combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrat-l my invention :v I igure 1 is afront view of an abdominal belt embodyin my invention, one side and endportion o the belt being broken away, the continuation of the belt fromthe left hand side of the central vertical line 1-1 being the same as'the continuation of the belt from the right hand side of said line.Fig. 2 is a transverse section lthrough the belt, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, on line `3---3 of Fig. 1.

and side portions 7 interposed between and.

connecting the central member 5 and end members 6.

Each side portion 7 comprises an elastic suitable of `fabric v1 3thereof together.

body 8 formed of iattened, tubular, knit fabric and strips 9 and 10formed of elastic materiaLand extending through the upper and lowerportions, respectively, of the tubular body 8. Each tubular body 8 isformed of a suitable length of seamless, tubular knit fabric, havingsubstantially annular courses of stitches, each course con# tainingsubstantially the same number of ARTHUR n. animaron, or nasce oen, Newmassa, assmnon'or ONE- r To or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, a conPstitches and the stitches being formed of a continuous thread. Thistubular fabric is the product of the well known knittin machine and inits normal iattened con iticn it is of substantially the 4same widththroughout its length. In forming the side portion 7, the stri s ofelastic material 9 and 10 are passed) through the flattened tubularfabric 8 and attached thereto adjacent to the upper and lower ed esthereof, by stitching l1 and 12, respectively. The stitching 11 and 12retains the strips 9 and l0 in the upper and lower portions,respectively, of the tubular fabric 8 and in spaced relation to eachother, as shown. The strip of tubular fabric with the inserted elasticstrips are then cut into lengths corresponding with the length of theside portions 7 of the belt. The cut lengths are then fasheioned intothe form shown in the drawings by stretchingv each portion`8 so thateach portion 8 will ygradually grow narrower from its junction with thecentral member 5 of the belt to its junction with its end member 6 ofthe belt, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.'-

Each end member 6-of the belt is formed of two correspondingly shapedpieces of substantially nonelastic woven fabric 13. The narrow end ofeach side portion 7 and its inserted strips 9 and 10 are insertedbetween the two pieces of fabric 13 of adjacent end member 6 and securedthereto by stitching v14 which extends to other parts of the member 6and secures the pieces The end members 6 thus serve to revent theexpansion of narrow ends of t e side portions 7 of the belt. Each endmember 6 is provided with suitable transverse stays 15 and 16, to holdthem in shape, and with suitable eyelets 17 to receive a lacin to drawthe ends of the .belt together an hold the belt in place when it isplaced around the body' ofthe wearer in the usual manner.

The central member 5 is formed of a strip of suitable substantiallynon-elastic fabric 18 to the rearward face of which the adjacent wideends of the side portion 7 and their inserted elastic strips 9; and 10are` attached'by .lateral stitching 19. letweenthe strip 18 and the side'portions' 7 stays 20 of steel or other suitable material are insertedand retained by` end stitching 21A which also secures the strips 9, 10and 8 and fabric 18 together. A central line ofstitching 22 isprovidedto form separate pockets for the stays 20. @n the rearward faceof the belt a strip of material 23 is sewed to the side portions 7 bylateral stitching 2a and to the forward strip 18 by the centralstitching 221. rlhis serves to nish the rearward face of the beltand'tol strengthen the union between the side portions 7 and A forms, ine'e'ct, apart of the central member 5. rllhe central member 5, includingthe stays serve to retain the widened central portion of the belt inshape and to prevent the contraction of the wide ends of the knit fabric8 of the side portions 7. flach` side portion 7 is provided with` a stay25 sewed thereto a suitable distance from the central member or stay 5and serves to pre- These two fabrics, `combined as herein shown and'described, provide 'an inexpensive, ecient and durable belt which willreadily conform to the body of the wearer due to the natural elasticityboth longitudinally and transversely, of the tubular knitf webs 8forming the side portions 7, and

which will properly support the abdomen,

due to the insertedv elastic strips 9 and 10 having greater strength andgreater recov l eringpower when stretchedthan the knit fabric 8 formingthe side portions 7. 'lhe Spaces between the .strips 9 and 10 formcomparatively soft pockets for the reception of the projecting hip bonesofl the wearer and thus provide a belt which may be worn with ease andcomfort.

To provide for theattachment of thigh straps l to the belt' whendesired, l, sew to. the bottom vof the narrow endfof each side portion 7a piece of material 26 having eyelets 27 therein to, which one Iend of athigh Y Y. strapmay be attached, and l provide. the

bottoms of the stays 25 with eyelets 28 to .which the ends of' thighstraps` extending frornzthe pieces 26 may be attached. 'llclaimz" C 1 Anabdominal belt-comprisinga por.

non.formed of elastic material, a strip of the tubular knijtfabric 8 isdevoid of'rubber inv its construction.

geraete elastic material extending adjacent to said; portion, and meansto attach said strip to said portion, said strip havinggreaterrecovering power when stretched than said portion.

2.1An abdominal belt provided with a portion formed of a tubular knitfabric, the opening in the tubular fabric extending in the direction ofthe length of the belt, -and' having a strip of elastic materialextending through said portion. L

3. An abdominal beltfcomprising'a portion formed of elastic material,'two spaced strips of" elastic material extending adjacent to `saidportion, and means .to attach said 'strips to said portion, said,stripshaving greater recovering power when stretched than `saidportion. l

4.- An abdominal belt provided with va portion formed of a tubular knitfabric, the opening` in the tubular fabric extending in the direction ofthe length of the belt, and having two spaced strips of elasticmateria-l extending through said portion.

5. An abdominal belt y including a portion .formed of a tubularknit'fabric having courses of stitches extending transversely of thebelt, the vopening in the tubular fabric extending in the direction ofthe length of the belt, a strip of elastic material extending'throughthe upper portion of said tubular fabric, a strip of elastic materialextending through the lower portion of 'said tubular fabric and spacedfrom the rst named strip, and means for attaching said strips to saidfabric. v

. 6. An abdominal belt including a portion formed of tubular fabric,`the opening in vthe tubular fabric extending in the direc-v tion of thelength of the belt, a strip of elastic material extending through theupper portion of saidtubular fabric, a strip of elastic materialextending through the lower portion of said tubular fabric and spacedfrom v the rst named strip, and means for attaching said strips to saidfabric.`

Q7. An abdominal' belt including a fashioned side portibn formed ofseamless, knit, tubular fabric gradually 'narrowing from the centralportion of the belt and having its courses ofstitches extendingctransversely of thefbelt, and a strip of elastic material extendingthrough said tubular fabric. l

8. An abdominal belt including a fashioned side portion formed ofseamless, knit, tubular fabric gradually narrowing rlfrom the` centralportion of the belt and having its courses' of stitches .extendingtransversely of -thebelt, means to prevent the contraction of the wideend of said side portion, and means to prevent the expansion of thenarrow' end of said side portion. v

9. An abdominal belt -Aincln a fashioned side portion formed of seaess,t,

liti@ lith tubular fabric graduall narrowing from the central portion oft e belt and having its courses of stitches extending transversely rowend of said side portion, and a strip of elastic material extendingthrough said tubular fabric and attached to said means.

'11. An abdominal belt including a fash-l ioned side portion formed ofseamless,knit, tubular fabric gradually narrowing from the centralportion of the belt and having its courses of stitches extendingtransversely of the belt, means to prevent the contractlon of the wideend of said side portion, means to prevent the expansion of the narrowend of said side portion, and a strip of elastic material extendingthrough said tubular fabric and attached thereto and to said means.

l2. An abdominal belt including a fashf ioned side portion formed ofseamless, knit,

' tubular fa ric gradually narrowing from the central portion of thebelt and havlng lts courses of stitches extendin transversely of thebeltyrneans to prevent t e contraction of the wide'end of said sideortion, means to prevent the expansion of e narrow end of said sideportion, and havln two spaced strips of elastic material exten ingthrough the upper and lower portions respectively Sti of said tubularfabric and -attached to said means.

13. An abdominal belt comprising a central member, end members, and twofashioned side portions attached to and connecting the central memberwith the respective end members, said side portions being formed ofseamless, knit tubular fabric, graduall narrowing from the centralmember to t e end members and having their courses of stitches extendingtransversely of the belt, said central member preventing the contractionof the slde portions attached thereto, and said end members preventingthe expansion of the ends of the side portions attached thereto.

14. An abdominal belt comprising a central member, end members,and.twofashioned side portions attached to .and connecting the central member`with the respective .end members, said side portions being `formed ofseamless, knit tubular fabric,

gradually narrowing from the central member to the end members andhaving their courses o f stitches extending transversely of the belt,said vcentral member preventing the contraction of the'side portionattached thereto, said end members preventing the expansion of the endsof the side portions attached thereto, and strips of elastic materialextending through said side portions and attached to said members.

15. An abdominal belt comprising a central member, end.members, and twofashioned side portions attached to and connecting the central memberwith therespective end members, said side portions being formed ofseamless, knit tubular fabric,

graduall narrowing from the central member to t e end members and havingtheir courses of stitches extending transversely of the belt', saidcentral member preventing the contraction of the side portions attachedthereto, said end members preventing the expansion of the ends of theside portions attached thereto, and two spaced strips of elasticmaterial extend-ing through the. upper and lower portions respectivelyof each of said side portions and attached thereto and to said members.

16. "Al abdominal belt comprising a central member, end members, and twofashioned side portions attached to and connecting the central 'membervwith the respective end members, said side portions being f formed .ofseamless, knit tubular fabric, graduall narrowing from the centralmember to the end members and having their courses of stitches extendingtransversely of the belt, said central member preventin the contractionof the side portions attach thereto, said end members preventing theexpansion of the ends of the side ortions attached thereto, and staysattache tosaid4 side portions and preventing the contraction thereofbetween said central member and said end members.

ln testimony whereof I adix my slgnature hereto.

ARTHUR B. KENDRICK.

